Nevada County picayune., 1887-11-16


 were menacing you. I cannot let you go, I cannot.'
 "Alice he said, almost sternly, never knew you to give way to this nonsense before. Would yol not despise me were 1 seltishly {, consult my own ease when these poor untortunates need my aid Go on, that's good girl; nothing Is wrong but your nerves"
 A hurried embrace and he was gone. Alice barred the door and returned to the sitting..room, sum. mOhing her hand maiden for com. pany, but Patty's presence proved small comfort, for after the most commendable endeavOrs to appear wide awake, she tnmbled ignO. mlniously on the floor.
 "Never mind Patty, it is near l2, time we were all asleep"
 Dr. Stanley walked rapidly down to the village, quickening his steps to a run as he heard train whis- tie. ''That must be the 1O.15," he said. He reached the station, painting, just as the cars dashed past him.
 "Bound for Lorimer, Doc! said the station agent with laugh You're pretty badly left"
 "SO it seems, panted the doctor, and there's not another tonight. Do you know anything of the ac- cident there."
 "No. Has there been an acci- dent? the laugh dying out. It's too bad you are left"
 "Will you lend me your bay, Jackson? can ride over there.
 "With pleasure, doctor, but you don't mean-"
 "Yes l do," said Stanley, har- messing up the powerful animal.
 "But, my God, doctor, there isn't d worse stretch from here to Denver. A mountain road, along precipices and chasms. Why, you are mad to think of it, even if there weren't q blizzard raging. Don't do it, Dr. Stanley"
 "Nonesense, Jackson, this storm will soon lift. Wish me a safe passage. Good night"
 Stanley pursued his way for some time with considerable ra- pidity until he gained the opening between the peaks, when he was obliged to proceed with extreme caution. The darkness was op- pressive; the intensely fierce cold chilled his very heart, the biting wind blew in terrible gusts, which broke the snow into atoms so fine that breathing was rendered eX- ceedingly difficult. Every parti- cle struck his face like Il fine splin ter. At length he halted. tremb- ling anXiously as he tried to shield the match while he consulted his watch. But it was impossible to fan the feeble light and he resum- ed his way muttering:-
 Il have lost my way, should be at Truetitts now.'
 He knew that on each side were yawning chasms and clefts, but how near he came to death. God alone knew. The whirling snow filled eyes and ears and nose, and his cut and bleeding skin caused him indescribable agony. The wind had redoubleu its violence. He leaned forward and sought to shield himself from its fury by clasping his arms around the horses neck. At that instant, the animal halted, trembling from head to feet.
 "My God, we are lOst!" burst from Stanley. He was benumbed with cold, his breath came in gasps, and he felt that unless he could urge his horse forward, he must succumb. He was just mak. ing the attempt, when it flashed upon him that the instinct of the animal was warning it against dan ger unknown to the man.
 He backed the horse cautiously, and then dismountiug began to walk backward and forward by the animals side, while the fury OI the storm increased, and his steps became weaker and more uncer. tain, and the belief that death was near grew stronger Ill Stanley's soul.
 He was sinking into the lethar gy of despair when, like dream